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On July 29th, representatives from the Hue Imperial Citadel Conservation Center announced that after a period of restoration, the Hai Van Pass will reopen to visitors starting August 1st. Admission to the Hai Van Pass will be free for locals and tourists until a suitable ticket price list is established.
Mr. Phan Van Tuan, Deputy Director of the Hue Imperial City Relics Conservation Center, said that Hai Van Pass will offer free entry initially. This free entry period aims to gauge visitor numbers, assess the effectiveness of reception and guided tours at the site, and provide time to gather feedback until the two localities complete the necessary procedures, agree on management, and promote the value of the relic in accordance with the law.
After nearly two years of restoration and reconstruction, the Hai Van Pass national historical site has basically completed the important items, restoring it to almost its original state as a "defensive rampart" during the Nguyen Dynasty.
Previously, at the end of 2021, the Hue Imperial City Conservation Center, in coordination with the Da Nang City Department of Culture and Sports, held a groundbreaking ceremony for the project to preserve, restore, and promote the value of the Hai Van Pass relic. The project has a total investment of over 42 billion VND (of which 50% is from the Da Nang budget and 50% from Thua Thien Hue).
The project restored the relics based on their original traces; this included restoring and replacing the stone-paved gate foundations, millstone systems, Thanh stone gates, brick walls, etc., and restoring the Nguyen Dynasty-era city walls with mountain stone based on archaeological evidence.
The overall project for the conservation, restoration, and enhancement of the value of the Hai Van Pass national historical site covers an area of approximately 6,500 square meters, with a total investment of over 42 billion VND.
Despite being restored and ready to welcome visitors, the Hai Van Pass historical site still lacks tourism infrastructure such as parking lots, ticket booths, and workspaces for tour guides and security guards. Furthermore, due to its location at an altitude of over 500 meters above sea level, the technical infrastructure has not been comprehensively developed, including limited mobile phone and internet coverage, and a shortage of personnel makes management difficult.
According to the project, the Hai Van Pass "defensive rampart" system will be restored according to the original features of the Nguyen Dynasty, during the reign of Emperor Minh Mang.
Hai Van Pass is located on the summit of Hai Van Pass, within the administrative boundaries of Lang Co town (Phu Loc district, Thua Thien Hue province) and Hoa Hiep Bac ward (Lien Chieu district, Da Nang city).
This historical site was built during the Tran Dynasty and restored during the Nguyen Dynasty (in the 7th year of Minh Mang's reign, 1826). The gate facing Thua Thien Province bears the inscription "Hai Van Quan," while the gate facing Da Nang reads "The most magnificent pass in the world." Situated at an altitude of 490m above sea level, Hai Van Quan is a military defense complex with numerous structures including a system of ramparts, warehouses, and cannon fortifications.
During the Nguyen Dynasty, Hai Van Pass was a crucial pass, serving as the southern gateway to the capital city of Hue. Therefore, the Nguyen Dynasty concentrated a large force and weapons at Hai Van Pass to defend it. This structure holds significant cultural and historical value and is also a famous scenic spot, contributing to the tourism development of Da Nang city and Thua Thien Hue province.
